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CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
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AUD USD focus turns to key Australian US data

Article By: ,  Financial Analyst
December 5, 2017 4:15 PM

On Tuesday in Sydney, the Reserve Bank of Australia held its cash rate steady at the record low 1.50%, as widely expected. Little was changed in the RBA’s new rate statement except that the central bank removed references to a strong Australian dollar being a source of pressure on the economy, as well as the assessment that inflation would likely remain low. With those omissions, the statement skewed slightly towards the hawkish side, but ultimately was not enough to keep the Australian dollar afloat in the face of a rebounding US dollar, even despite earlier Australian retail sales numbers and China services PMI data that both beat estimates.

Looking ahead this week, several key data releases will likely have a significant impact on AUD/USD. On Wednesday in Australia, Q3 GDP will be released (+0.7% expected). In the US, Wednesday brings the November ADP private employment report (around +190,000 jobs expected), a precursor to Friday’s official jobs data. Thursday features Australian trade balance data for October (+1.41B expected). Finally, Friday brings the highly anticipated November US jobs report, centering on the headline non-farm payrolls number (around +200,000 jobs expected), unemployment rate (4.1% expected), and average hourly earnings (+0.3% expected). Aside from these key data points, the US dollar will also be driven by any progress (or lack thereof) on US tax reform.

From a technical perspective, AUD/USD has been entrenched in a strong bearish trend since the early September high around the 0.8100 handle. On a longer-term basis, the currency pair still trades largely within a bullish trend as outlined by an uptrend line extending back to the lows one year ago in December of 2016. The past few weeks have seen AUD/USD fluctuate above and below this trend line without yet making a decisive breakdown. With any data-driven downside move for AUD/USD, or USD-positive developments in US tax reform that would pressure the currency pair lower, a key trigger level to watch for a potential breakdown lies around the 0.7530 November lows.

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